This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Rattlesnakes Are a Common Sight — and Sound — Out on the Trail

The sound of a rattlesnake beneath your horse's feet is something you never forget.

Rattlesnakes are common in the backcountry—dare I say numerous in some locations. In Southern California we have several species of rattlesnake, including the Southern Pacific, Southwestern speckled and red diamond. In the desert areas, the desert sidewinder is most present.

I have no idea how to tell the difference when I’m out on a ride, but I often look them up online just as a reminder that they are ever present out on the trail. A good resource is the San Diego Herpetology Society for quick answers to questions you may have. 

My first encounter with a rattlesnake was some years ago just up the street from my own home. In all of my years of riding I had never heard or seen a snake out on the trail. The particular encounter included Jane and me. We were out for a ride one afternoon and a friend came riding along, so we cut through the brush to meet up with our pals.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I had never given much thought about how to handle a snake encounter and had no idea at that time how sick my horse could get if bitten or that my horse could even die from a snake bite. 

Upon entering the brush—we call it “bush whacking,” which I rarely ever do—there it was; the distinct noise of the rattler! Even though I had never heard it, I knew what it was immediately.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Jane froze. As she stood with me on her back, trembling in fear, I called out to my friend and told her that Jane was right on top of a rattlesnake. I contemplated my options: Let Jane stand there until the snake went away, or ask Jane to move quickly and hope for the best. 

I decided that since I had no idea what to do, I’d let my horse handle the situation. After all, she was the one in immediate danger, not me. I couldn’t see the snake so I had no idea where it was. I figured that since Jane was no longer moving, the snake would slither away.

After what seemed like an eternity, the snake stayed right where it was rattling away with Jane shaking beneath me. I had to reconsider how to handle the situation. With my brain ticking through my options wildly, I finally asked my friend to get the vet’s phone number up on her cell phone in case we needed to make an emergency call, should Jane be bitten.

Once that was done I kicked and whipped Jane like a maniac to get her to jump forward and move as fast as possible. I had never done anything like that to her. It was so unexpected on her part that up she went and forward in a flash. I am not sure her feet even touched the ground until we were far enough from the snake to barely hear its rattle any longer. Disaster averted. 

As time has rolled on and trail miles accumulate in the saddle, my encounters with snakes have become almost commonplace. They have excellent camouflage, and even in the clear of the trail proper they are difficult to see. Typically they are alongside a trail in the brush or grasses and I am thankful they give the warning of their rattle so we can stay away from them.

Spring is the season in which most of my snake encounters have occurred. I think the winter is too cold and the summer too hot for much snake activity, at least in most trails around Southern California.

I do pay more attention to the trail in front of me than I used to since that initial experience and have educated myself a bit about their habits and how to try to avoid them. As I have encountered more snakes, I have also seen that the typical reaction of a horse—mine or someone else’s—is to spin or jump out of the way if the snake is close.

Cricket has thus far been great at avoiding snakes with the jump and spin. If the snake is far enough ahead and gives its warning, horses will simply refuse to go any further toward the snake. Pretty smart cookies if you ask me. 

I see snakes from time to time out in the Cleveland National Forest, which is where I do most of my riding. I have never seen one out in the desert–yet–believe it or not. I have heard or seen the most snakes up in Cuyamaca State Park.

Every time I ride up there, a snake is part of the experience. While I haven’t ridden in the snow when snakes are not present, and don’t intend to, from March through October I have encountered snakes on the trail there. I think I see the desert sidewinder, but again I’m not certain.

Remember that the goes right up into the Cuyamaca State Park. It may seem strange but it’s true! Snakes don’t know boundaries or fences and live where they are comfortable and well fed. 

Of course there are the non-venomous snakes thrown into the mix from time to time, and to perfectly honest, being more than six feet in the air and not wishing to find myself guessing at the actual species of snake, it’s tough to tell what kind of snakes are out there, so I just avoid them all. 

After a little research I found out that it is rare for a horse to die from a snakebite. I hope I never have to find out. I also noted that most bites to horses are on the face or muzzle since they are reaching down to graze and snakes are on the ground. This makes their face swell and breathing becomes difficult if the airway is completely cut off, which is the main cause of death in the event of a snakebite.

I’ve met folks that carry around lengths of ½-inch hose so they can place it up the nose of their horse in case of snakebite. I don’t think I’d be comfortable doing that. What if I missed or ripped up Cricket’s sinus or went too far and damaged her esophagus with the hose – too many what-if’s for me to handle! I intend to remain calm, keep her calm and call my vet. 

I have heard about “avoidance classes” for dogs, where they teach dogs to stay away from rattlesnakes, but I’m not aware of this type of course for the equines in my life, so it’s up to me to be vigilant and protect my horses from the lurking danger about their feet and grazing muzzles.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?